What's bugging you? (Memo to Members).

Spring--bring it on. It was a tough winter. Plenty of people grumbled, and plenty of others responded with the classic "everyone complains about the weather, but no one does anything about it." We wondered what other, more actionable problems people were griping about. We checked with the folks who hear a lot of them: the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG, believe it or not) to ask for 2002's hit parade. The state AG's office is where you'll usually find the office of consumer protection--a good place to register your complaints about products or services.

Another good place is Consumers Union's Web site, www.consumerunion.org. A new feature, the Take Action Center, lets consumers voice their opinions directly to state and federal decision makers and agencies, and to the media. You can find sample letters that make it easy to write to the Federal Communications Commission about cell phones or complain to Congress about cable rates. We post good and bad developments in consumer protection, recent votes by your lawmakers, and a list of media outlets in your area--just type in your ZIP code.

So what are NAAG's top five complaints across the country?

Not surprisingly, auto-related complaints--including car repair, car-rental companies, and used-car dealers--topped the list, as they have for eight of the past nine years. More and more, auto consumers are pressured to buy credit life insurance, extended warranties, and other overpriced add-ons that provide huge profits to sellers but little value to consumers. States should act to ensure reasonable prices and fair contract terms for these products.

Number two on the list is telecommunications. Slamming (switching your long-distance carrier without your permission), cramming (slipping unauthorized charges onto your phone bill), and billing issues were widespread.

California is considering a telecommunications "bill of rights" that would ...